Earth Day will be celebrated across the country on Sunday. While it was made an annual holiday in 1970, it is this year that news about global warming and climate change is dominating the front page and leading the nightly newscast.
A recent California Field Poll revealed that eight out of 10 Californians (81 percent) describe global warming as a very serious (56 percent) or somewhat serious (25 percent) problem. Just one in five approves of the job that the federal government is doing to deal with the problem.
Voters, however, are in support of state legislation that was passed last year requiring that California reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020.
Going solar
On a local level, the city is working on a pilot program to encourage green building.Recently, Pleasanton has been working with the city of Livermore on a Solar Cities Program. It would bring together residents, businesses and organizations to encourage green building practices such as installing solar panels and other energy-efficient products into homes, buildings and municipal facilities. Both cities are currently compiling data and enlisting community stakeholders to participate in the program, according to Scott Baker, Pleasanton’s assistant director of public works.
“We’re sketching out an outline for what this program’s going to be and now we’re doing our first outreach to potential stakeholders,” Baker said. “After that, assuming that we get all the feedback we need, we’ll modify the program to what we think is everybody’s needs and both (cities will) take it back to their respective City Councils and see what the next step is.”
The state offers incentives for people who utilize green building practices, but often times, there’s a lot of red tape to go through that may prevent them from applying for them. The Solar Cities Program aims to simplify the process, lend a helping hand and encourage the use of environmentally efficient products and materials.
The first stakeholder meetings will be held on May 3. A meeting for businesses and the community will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. and a meeting for homes and homeowners will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the Cresta Blanca meeting room at the Robert Livermore Community Center, 4444 East Ave., Livermore.
For more information, call Baker at 931-5506.
Green report card
While the city is reaching out to residents and businesses to incorporate green building practices, some homebuilders have already begun doing that in town.Ponderosa Homes is building the Classics at Ironwood and the Estates at Ironwood off Busch Road. It offers a solar package to prospective homebuyers such as the installation of solar roof systems installed for an extra cost and so far, the program has been well received.
Last Saturday, Centex Homes’ new residential development Avignon by Centex, held an open house to showcase its GreenPoint Rated model home at 1201 Machado Place, off Vineyard Avenue in eastern Pleasanton. It is the first residential development in the East Bay to receive the rating, which was created by Berkeley-based nonprofit organization Build It Green. The organization uses a third-party to rate the level of “green” features in a home like a report card and points can be earned in five categories: energy-efficiency, resource conservation, indoor air quality, water conservation and community design. Residences must receive at least 50 points to receive the rating; Avignon homes scored just over 100 points.
Some of the features used in the homes include blown-in recycled content, no-added formaldehyde fiberglass insulation, engineered wood for the beams, headers, floor joists and subfloors, paints that release fewer toxic gases and a tighter duct system so contaminant-filled air isn’t pulled into the home. They also scored highly for their efficient central heating and air condition systems and tankless water heaters as well as 3.5 kilowatt integrated solar cells to generate electricity. For more information on Build It Green, visit www.builditgreen.org.
The youngest generation
In its fifth year, the Go Green Initiative remains strong in Pleasanton schools. Created by Pleasanton resident Jill Buck, it is now the largest and fastest growing environmental education program in the nation, operating in 30 states, the United Kingdom and in parts of Africa.The program aims to teach the youngest generation about ways to conserve energy and waste and to become stewards of the environment. Alisal Elementary School, a Go Green school, has spent this past week participating in Earth Week for a third year in a row. Led by Go Green parent coordinator Karen Zengel, the school has had a variety of activities for each day. On Monday, students traveled around booths set up by Pleasanton Garbage Service, the Foothill Worm Ranch, Zone 7 Water Agency, the City of Pleasanton Water Service, Alameda County Health and Vector Control and the city’s program naturalist, Eric Nicholas.
Students have also been submitting their designs for a mural contest incorporating the 4 R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle and rot. Winning designs will be used by Zengel, who is a muralist, to create four collages for the ball walls on the playground area. They will be painted this summer with the help of student and adult volunteers. Jay Gilbert Painting Company and Marti Gilbert of Alain Pinel Realtors are donating additional labor and the materials.
In addition, children will learn about the amount of waste that can be reduced by recycling products used to pack lunches as well as packing a lunch with as few disposable bags, packages, juice cartons and paper products as possible by using resealable containers, washable utensils and cloth napkins. During last year’s Earth Week events, Alisal students reduced lunchtime trash waste by 60 pounds.
They will also attend an assembly featuring guest and former Pleasanton teacher Frank Helling, who will be dressed as John Muir and will talk about environmental stewardship.
Earth Day-themed events this weekend
Sports Park An Earth Day celebration sponsored by the City of Pleasanton and Zone 7 Water Agency will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday near the snack shack at the Sports Park, Parkside Drive at Hopyard Road.Event-goers will receive prizes and be invited to visit different stations to learn how the key elements of a healthy environment work and how to keep them from being polluted. Participants can learn household tips that are less toxic, see how the local stormwater system works, learn why water conservation is critical, find out how important our groundwater basin is and discover ways to garden with less toxins from master gardeners.
The Pleasanton Ad Hoc Trails Group will be on hand to talk to people about the local trails. Cub Scouts and other individual volunteers will also be making a contribution by cleaning along the creeks.
Alameda County Fairgrounds
Sponsored by the City of Pleasanton, residents will be able to drop off unwanted televisions, computer monitors and other e-waste at a free electronics collection event from noon to 5 p.m. today, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds.Forms of acceptable e-waste include: computers, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, PDAs, stereos, radios, copiers, cell phones, printers, fax machines and camcorders. Not acceptable are large appliances, white goods, kitchen appliances, ovens or stoves, dishwashers and packaging.
Mt. Diablo State Park
Mount Diablo State Park will be celebrating Earth Day with festivities planned from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the park’s Mitchell Canyon staging area in Clayton.A variety of work projects will be held including exotic, non-native plant removal, barbed wire fence removal and trail restoration. All ages, including families are welcome. Registration is required. Contact State Park Ranger Ryen Goering at 837-6129 or by email junctionrangers@earthlink.net.
Gloves, hand tools, trash bags and refreshments will be provided. Carpooling is recommended. Parking and shuttle service will be available at Pine Hollow Middle School in Concord, 5522 Pine Hollow Road.
